Chapter 84, a flashback chapter (You can skip this if you don't like it...)
As soon as the question was asked, the ladies nearby couldn't help but turn their heads to look over, their gossipy eyes scrutinizing the magistrate's wife while also glancing at Young Master Tao.
Those who were all from the inner quarters of the household had a sharper intuition. The question, "Your wife and children?" was tinged with shock and seemed to carry an accusation. Everyone instantly realized that their relationship was not close.
This young master of the Tao family is indeed one of the most handsome men in the area, but isn't the magistrate of Huquan County also here today? Is the magistrate's wife really that bold?
"Yes." Tao Maoran didn't look at Zhao Xian's eyes. He didn't know that his family had sent an invitation to Magistrate Jiang, and he never expected that Magistrate Jiang, who was said to be incorruptible and not colluding with merchants, would actually come to his son's full moon celebration.
The young mistress of the Tao family's smile froze for a moment. "The county magistrate's wife recognizes my husband?"
Zhao Xian wanted to say how could she not recognize him? For the past two months, his wife had always been Meng Yingniang, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
She hadn't lost her mind and forgotten that she was in the Tao family compound. The main branch of the Tao family had a young mistress, and they were celebrating the full moon of their eldest grandson. What did this mean?
This means that Tao Maoran had a wife, but claimed that Meng Yingniang was his wife in Huquan County.
Zhao Xian didn't want to think about the worst possible outcome, but she had no choice because the two of them considered themselves husband and wife, not just suitors.
She always believed that Tao Maoran was Meng Yingniang's husband.
Zhao Xian pursed her lips. "Does Young Master Tao really have no other brothers?"
"Madam, you jest. My wife just explained that there was no such thing."
Zhao Xian felt a chill run down her spine: "Have you ever been to Huquan County?"
Tao Maoran nodded, "I had some business to take care of in Huquan County before, so I stayed there for about two months."
Tao Maoran did not deny that he was in Huquan County, but he also did not explicitly say that he had a relationship with Meng Yingniang.
Looking at that face that showed no embarrassment whatsoever, even composure, Zhao Xian felt a nameless fire rising in her heart, her anger surging.
She even praised their affection, because Tao Maoran cared a lot about Meng Yingniang. If they weren't clerks in the backyard of the county government, Tao Maoran would probably stay by Meng Yingniang's side.
After all, when they went out to play, Tao Maoran always stayed by Meng Yingniang's side, afraid that she would bump into something.
Unlike Jiang Liangxu, who is sometimes so busy that he is nowhere to be seen for ten days or half a month.
Not to mention taking her out for a spring outing or a boat trip on the lake.
It turns out he has a wife!
Does Meng Yingniang know about this?
In the front yard, a servant was announcing the names of the guests who had come to offer their congratulations.
The young mistress of the Tao family smiled and changed the subject: "Husband, it's your parents who have arrived. Quickly take the child over to them so they can see him."
"good."
The family of three looked extremely happy.
Zhao Xian felt nauseous and even gagged.
"The Magistrate's Wife".
"What's wrong, Madam?"
Zhao Xian covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, trying to suppress the nausea, but it only made her feel even more suffocated.
The maid ran to find Jiang Liangxu.
"Ah Xian, are you feeling unwell?"
Zhao Xian grabbed Jiang Liangxu's sleeve, "I don't want to stay here anymore, let's go."
She only came because of Meng Yingniang, and thought it was her sister-in-law who had given birth.
Although Zhao Xian was easygoing, she could sense that Meng Yingniang was sometimes unhappy. Moreover, since the couple had always lived in Huquan County, she assumed it was due to discord with her family.
She had hoped that this trip would give her some support, but the result was far beyond her expectations; it was disgusting.
Without the slightest hesitation, Jiang Liangxu picked him up and said, "Could it be that your motion sickness is getting worse? I'll take you to see a doctor."
When the Tao family saw them about to leave, they immediately came forward and asked, "Lord Jiang, what's wrong with Madam?"
"My wife isn't feeling well, so we'll take our leave now."
Tao Maoran said, "The Tao family has a doctor. Let's go to the guest room first. I'll have a servant call the doctor to treat the lady."
The young mistress of the Tao family also spoke up, saying, "Yes, Madam was fine just now, why did you suddenly feel unwell? Why don't you go to the guest room to rest?"
Zhao Xian shook her head. She was disgusted with Tao Maoran and didn't want to stay in the Tao family any longer.
Jiang Liangxu's tone was calm and distant: "No need, we have other arrangements later."
Upon seeing Tao Maoran's wife, Jiang Liangxu understood Meng Yingniang's identity.
Zhao Xian's praise of Meng Yingniang was probably for this very reason that she felt uncomfortable.
He hadn't originally planned to accept the Tao family's invitation, but Zhao Xian insisted on coming because of Meng Yingniang's sake.
The Tao family wanted to say something more, but Jiang Liangxu ignored them and left directly.
After leaving the Tao family, Zhao Xian thought she would feel better, but her nausea did not improve, so Jiang Liangxu insisted on taking her to the clinic.
"Congratulations to you both. Madam has a slippery pulse. The pregnancy is still early. Madam should rest more."
Zhao Xian glanced at Jiang Liangxu, "I thought I was disgusted by him."
Jiang Liangxu ruffled her hair. "In that case, let's set off back."
Just as Zhao Xian was about to nod, she suddenly realized something was wrong. "Has Tao Maoran hidden his wife?"
When Zhao Xian received the invitation from the Tao family, she had not seen Meng Yingniang for three days.
She only sent someone to inform her that she had to leave for a few days.
At first, she thought they left in such a hurry that Meng Yingniang didn't have time to say goodbye, but now it seems that's not the case at all.
Was it that Meng Yingniang was too busy to ask for leave, or that Tao Maoran was preventing her from saying it?
Tao Maoran held a full-month celebration for his son at the Tao family home, but what about Meng Yingniang?
"I want to take her with me."
What a piece of trash! Making her talented wife a concubine? What a bastard!
"This is a bit troublesome. If it's a concubine, then a concubine's certificate needs to be issued." Although Jiang Liangxu didn't have much contact with Tao Maoran and Meng Yingniang, he always heard about the two of them from Zhao Xian after returning home.
At least in her view, the two were incredibly loving.
In fact, most businessmen are like this; it's not an isolated case.
Merchants often brought concubines with them when they traveled. Some concubines could help with business negotiations or be given away for personal use.
Because Zhao Xian always said how good Tao Gongzi was to Meng Yingniang, and how he allowed Meng Yingniang to work in the county government, this was something that ordinary men could not do.
Therefore, neither of them ever imagined that Meng Yingniang would not be the legal wife.
"Arrest Tao Maoran and force him to release his concubine. The lady is a staff member of the county government, and it is a crime for her to be kidnapped by Tao Maoran."
Jiang Liangxu: "..."
"What's with that look? Is my idea that bad?"
Jiang Liangxu placed the fish bones he had removed into her bowl and said, "Eat. You're not alone anymore. Eat first."
“I was so stupid before. Madam is so quiet and pitiful most of the time. Could it be that she doesn’t actually want to be a concubine? Let’s help her.” Zhao Xian wasn’t unaware that Meng Yingniang sometimes showed sadness.
She assumed the girl was homesick, since from her description, her family seemed to be doing well, and she had a career she enjoyed.
Having inexplicably traveled to this place, and for such a short time, it's understandable that I'm not used to it.
It turned out she was completely wrong.
Before they could ask Tao Maoran for Meng Yingniang, the young mistress of the Tao family came to the inn looking for Zhao Xian.
"This humble woman pays her respects to the county magistrate's wife."
"Young Madam, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise and have a seat." Zhao Xian glanced at the maid, who then brought a stool for Young Madam Tao.
Zhao Xian didn't really want to see her. She had recognized Meng Yingniang first, so she would definitely be biased towards Meng Yingniang in her heart.
But she is the legal wife and has done nothing wrong. The only one to blame is the scumbag who can't control his lower body.
The thought of Tao Maoran made Zhao Xian feel nauseous. She pretended to be affectionate in front of Meng Yingniang, and she also put on a tender and affectionate act in front of her own wife.
"Did you need me for something, young mistress?"
Madam Tao had dark circles under her eyes, and she twisted her handkerchief in her hands as if struggling with a dilemma, saying, "Madam of the county magistrate has met my husband's mistress who is kept outside the home. I would like to ask what kind of person she is?"
Zhao Xian opened her mouth, "A mistress?"
Before she could speak, Madam Tao continued, "I only found out after I married my husband that he had a mistress whom he doted on, but I had never seen her."
Seeing the lady's reaction yesterday, I dare to speculate whether it has anything to do with my husband's mistress. Since I married into the Tao family, I've heard everyone say that my husband dotes on her to the bone..."
Zhao Xian frowned slightly, "If you love her so much, why don't you marry her as your principal wife?"
What are those two doing with the mistress, who is even less than a concubine?
Madam Tao was slightly taken aback. She had thought that after revealing the other party's identity, the county magistrate's wife would despise the mistress and thus help her out.
Tao Maoran hid people too well. She couldn't infiltrate them or easily find out their whereabouts. Because the Tao family had many shops outside, Tao Maoran often traveled around doing business, always with his mistress by his side. She had no way to deal with her.
This time, the unusual thing was discovered from the magistrate's wife. Since she couldn't deal with the mistress, she might as well borrow outside help.
But when she revealed the other person's identity, the magistrate's wife did not show any disgust.
Mrs. Tao was a little flustered. Could it be that the magistrate's wife was not the legal wife?
She shouldn't have come today.
Zhao Xian didn't understand. Meng Yingniang was a time traveler. If Tao Maoran hadn't been married, it wouldn't have mattered if they were dating. But Tao Maoran had a legal wife, and she was just a mistress...
At that moment, Zhao Xian felt deceived.
Or does she have her own reasons?
Zhao Xian couldn't help but make excuses for her.
"Does the young mistress know where that mistress is now?"
Madam Tao shook her head and smiled bitterly: "Ever since I entered the manor, my husband has treated her like the apple of his eye, hiding her away. If you hadn't mentioned it yesterday, I wouldn't have known that they had ever lived in Huquan County."
Zhao Xian opened her mouth, unsure how to comfort the other person, because at this moment her own reason and morality were still at odds.
After Madam Tao left, Zhao Xian sat by the window of the inn for a long time, staring blankly at the river behind the inn.
Zhao Xian couldn't tell whether Madam Tao's words were true or not, so she could only ask those in the know.
What angered Zhao Xian was that Tao Maoran admitted that Meng Yingniang was his mistress, but refused to reveal her whereabouts.
After that, he never brought Meng Yingniang to Huquan County again.
At that time, Jiang Liangxu didn't have many people at his disposal, nor did he have the intelligence network that allowed him to easily uncover people's secrets.
I saw Meng Yingniang again a month later, when Tao Maoran brought her there.
In just one month, Meng Yingniang became even thinner than before, so thin that a gust of wind could blow her away.
Tao Maoran knelt before Zhao Xian, pleading, "Make her eat something, beg the magistrate's wife to persuade her to let Yingniang eat something."
Zhao Xian: "?"
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